Installing an Interlock on a Motorcycle After a DUI
Some people believe that if they are caught driving drunk on a motorcycle, they will not face the same consequences as if they were driving a car. This is false. If you are pulled over and convicted of drunk driving while operating a motorcycle, car, truck or van, you will face the same penalties. Additionally, many people wonder if it is required to install a breathalyzer also called an ignition interlock device (IID), if they are convicted of driving drunk while operating a motorcycle.
Regaining Your License
After a drunk driving conviction, your driver’s license will be suspended or revoked, depending on your state’s laws, and you will have requirements you must fulfill for your license to be reinstated. In some cases, you will need to install an IID in your vehicle.
A common misconception is that if you’re required to install an ignition interlock, you will only need to install the device in the vehicle you were pulled over in when the DUI charge was issued. This is also false. The law requires you to install a device in every vehicle you will operate during your suspension or revocation. You must satisfy this requirement to regain your driver’s license with your motorcycle endorsement.
Motorcycles and Drunk Driving Statistics
Motorcycles make up three percent of all registered vehicles in the United States, but motorcyclists are more at risk when it comes to getting on the road. Let’s look at 2020 data from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA):
- Motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were found to have the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers than any other vehicle types — 27 percent for motorcycles. Much higher compared to 23 percent for passenger cars, 19 percent for light trucks and 3 percent for large trucks.
- 41 percent of motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes were alcohol-impaired.
- Motorcycle riders killed in traffic crashes at night were three times more frequently alcohol-impaired than those killed during the day.
- Motorcyclist fatalities occurred nearly 28 times more than passenger car occupant fatalities, and motorcyclists were nearly 4 times more likely to be injured.
Understanding Your Drunk Driving Conviction
If you’re convicted of a DUI while driving a motorcycle, Intoxalock can help you regain your license and drive safe again with an ignition interlock device. Call us at 833-623-0200 24/7 to speak to a specialist and find an interlock installation location near you.
